Support for invalids



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Patented Apr. 24, 1923.

PATENT}, OFFICE.

GEORGE KENNEDY, orcoovrne'ron, LQUIsI NAQ I SUPPORT FOR InvALIns.

Applicatiorrfiled July 14, 1922. Serial No. 575,035. I

To all whom z'tmay concern: v

Be it known that I, Gnonon KENNEDY, a citizenof Hungary, and'a resident of Govington, in the county of St. Tammany and State of Louisianmhave invented certain new and useful Improvements in Supports for Invalids, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improvement in supports for invalids.

The object of the invention is to provide a support of this character which maybe conveniently associated with hospital beds or any type of bed andwhich when so'associated provides a comfortable and c0nvenient support for maintaining the invalid or patient is semifallen position. Iircertam surgical cases, especially in peritonitis cases, it is very important to keep the patient in proper position forseveral days at least,'and sometimes for weeks, and for this purpose beds have been provided with tiltable sec tions which serve as back rests or separate back rests have been" provided. 'Such expedients have, however, been found unsatisfactory because the patient slides down the back rest or the tilted section of the bed and is not maintained in proper position. Any movement of the patient at such time causes unnecessary pain to the patient and extra work to the nurses. With the present invention the patient is positively though comfortably maintained in proper position and is not permitted to slide or move from the proper position although the patient is not so restrained as'to preclude him from partaking of such movements as are proper and necessary. 1

Another import-ant ob 'ect is to provide a device of this character which is of simple and durable construction, reliable in operation, comfortable in use and easy and inexpensive to manufacture.

A further object is to provide a device of this character which is adjustable to meet the demands of various conditions and to conform itself to various sized persons.

Other objects and advantages f the invention reside in certain novel features ,of construction, combination and arrangement of parts which will be hereinafter more fully described and particularly pointed out in the appended claims, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification, and in which:

Figure 1 is a View in side elevation, illustrating the support in use;

Figure 2 port; v s

Figure 3 is aview thereof in longitudinal vertical section.

Referring to the drawings wherein for the sake of illustration is shown the preferred embodiment of the invention, B designates generally a bed which maybe of any type and with which the present invention is associated. The bed as usual includes side rails R and a mattress or bedding M. back rest of any conventional form and here designated at A may be provided.

The support which constitutes the pres ent invention is designated generally at S and includes a base 10 from one end of which parallel bars ll extend. At the forward portion of the base 10 and at the side of. the bars 11 there are securedbrackets 12.

Straps designated at 14 areconnected with the brackets 12 and thefree end of these straps have 1nounted thereon fasteningdevices 15: shown as comprising books but which may consist of a clasp or any suitable type of fastening device. When the support is positioned for use it rests on the mattress or bedding M and the straps 14 are extended down around the rails R of the bed, and the hooks 15 are secured to any convenient portion of the bed. This firmly secures the support in position.

The seat and leg rest, which constitutes a part of the invention is mounted upon the base and include a plate 20 pivotally connected to the forward end of the base 10 by means of a pivot rod 21 carried by the plate 20 and mounted in bearing lugs 22 secured to the base. A second plate 24 is connected to the plate 20 by means of a hinge 25. This plate 24 includes a curved portion 24 which support the legs at the knee, the curved portion 24 being of proper contour for this purpose. At its free edge the plate 24 is cooperable with a series of inclined notches 11 provided in each of the bars 11. By selectively seating the plate 24 in the various notches l1 the height and inclination of the plates 20 and 2a may be varied. It is to be noted that the free edgeof the plate 24 is cut away adjacent each end so as to provide shoulders 27 which engage with the adjacent faces of the bars 11 to reinforce the plate 24 and prevent lateral displaceis' a perspective view of the supn'ient thereof. The plate 20 is provided with an opening 28 in about the center thereof and a closure in the form of a sliding panel 29 is provided for this opening, the panel being mounted in guides 30 secured to the underside of the plate 20. A handle 31 .lf'a cilitates manipulation of the sliding panel 29. Various receptacles, such as the one designated at C may be disposed beneath the opening 28 and the patient himself may control the position of the panel 29 by grasping the handle 31.

In use, it is to be noted that the plates 20 and 24 provide not only a seat but also a. rest for the legs above and below the knees, and the back rest that is usually provided supports the body of the patient. Moreover the height and inclination of the plates may be varied at Will and as the condition of the patient necessitates. Again, it is not necessary to move the patient for any purposes portion, a hinge for connecting the curved portion to the first plate, said bars having series of inclined notches cooperableivith the free end of said second plate, the free end of said second plate being cut away adjacent each side to provide shoulders engageable with the bars for reinforcing the second plate and preventing lateral displacement thereof.

2. A support for invalids including abase having bars extending therefrom, a plate, means for pivotally connecting one end of said plate to said base, a second plate having a curved portion, a hinge, for connecting the curved portion to the first plate, said bars having a series of inclined notches cooperable With the free end of said second plate.

3. A support for invalids for use with beds including a base having bars extending from one end thereof, brackets carried by said base and said bars, straps connected with the brackets and having fastening devices at their free ends adapted to engage Withthe bed for securing the support in positifoh thereon, a plate pivotally connected to the base, and a second plate pivotally connected to the first plate, and adjustably engageable With the bars. g I

4:. A support for invalids including a base, a plate, means for pivotally connecting one end of said plate to said base, a second plate having a curvedportion and a hinge for connecting the curved portion to the first plate,

the free end of the second plate being adjustablyconnectable With the base.

enoaen KENNEDY. 

